Issues Views Reviews

Bheja Fry – Movie Review

May 2, 2007

I saw the movie Bheja Fry at long last! Been hearing all kinds of good things about it – and what made me finally go and see it wasn’t just because that it was said to be ‘different’ and ‘funny’ and not typically Bollywood, and also because it had got good ratings from reviewers. Well, the movie isn’t bad at all. In fact, its fun to watch. Good time-pass. And thankfully not a long movie, just one and a half hours. People in the theatre enjoyed the movie and as we walked out everyone was in a good mood, laughing amongst themselves, repeating the dialogues, and I heard someone say: Good time-pass.
The movie is different and it’s funny. Now, that’s true. It’s different because it’s basically a low budget film shot almost wholly in a bungalow where most of the action is conversation. No songs and no glamour. No elaborate sets, no exotic locations. It’s difficult to make a movie like this interesting or funny, but this one is both.
The story revolves around a part-time singer who works in an income tax office (Bharat Bhushan played by Vinay Pathak). He is pleasantly plump and well, a bit of an idiot who gets on people’s nerves. The story is also about a rich and arrogant music director (Ranjeet Thadani played by Rajat Kapoor) who along with his friends invites a ‘guest’ for dinner every Friday, just to have a laugh at his expense. This time they choose this guy, the singer, who calls himself Bharat Bhushan.

The dinner party doesn’t finally happen due to unforeseen circumstances, but Bharat Bhushan does come to Ranjeet Thadani’s house and the situation gets complicated partly due to Bharat Bhushan’s bungling, much to the chagrin of his host. At some points the movie reminded me a little of Mr. Bean, but Bharat Bhushan is not really like that, not that much of a clumsy idiot. Just a well meaning fool who tries to help others but in the process makes a complete mess of things.

But frankly if it wasn’t for the acting of Vinay Pathak who acts as the idiot, the movie would have been a completely flop. There are some very very funny moments in the movie…and all because of Pathak’s mannerisms, the way he repeats his dialogues, the way he locks his briefcase, the way he speaks…well, the movie is all him.

There are only a handful of characters. Besides these two main characters there is Milind Soman (he plays Ranjit’s friend Ghosal) whose acting was pathetic and forced, Ranvir Shorey who acts as Asif Merchant (Bharat Bhushan’s friend) and his acting was completely over the top. Too farcical to be funny. Sarika, who plays the wife of Ranjit Thadani acted quite alright, but she plays the serious parts, and was not comic. Rajat Kapoor was very good in parts but I felt paled in comparision to Vinay Pathak.

One thing about the story or situation I found a quite odd…Sarika plays the fickle wife and in fact keeps changing her mind about which man she wants to be with. And in the movie several other wives are shown to have left their husbands…Bharat Bhushan’s and Asif Merchant’s and ofcourse, Milind Soman’s. All these wives seem to be playing musical chairs with men (all older women with no sign of any kids in the background!) and while it was quite funny, I was left a little puzzled…until my daughter told me when I came home that the movie is a copy of a French movie!

Ahh. Then it fits. The rapid changing of partners is a theme of many French movies and in fact a subject of various French comedies. It is a satorical reflection on their society. Not ours. I have not seen the original French but a search of the internet confirmed that the movie is indeed alleged to be a copy. I was terribly disappointed. Sure, the title (Brain Fry) is cute, but I wonder what else.

Sagar Ballary who directed the movie and wrote the screenplay has apparently lived up to Bollywood’s name. He has allegedly made a movie thats a copy of a western movie…this time not of a Hollywood movie, but of a French movie. What a shame, specially as it has been reported that Ballary has made a lot of money on this movie as its a low budget film.

Sounds like this movie is based on the French “Diner au cons” quite goofy! But your version sound very funny from your description. You would think that a remake of a foreign film for audiences in India might be based more on play on local manners and social expectations, so if Musical-chairs wife stuff is not common in India, then perhaps the movie makers might have made a good comedy of contemporary manners there , hung onto the foreign premise – now that would have been really good, most likely.
I like the way you review, it makes me want to go see this film! G

I watched the movie a few years ago in spain. The spanish title was “la cena de los idiotas” (the dinner of idiots). I liked the film a lot. But it wasnt a boom. Nice story. The indian version is also a good one. The actors are good. They did a good job.

Search by subject

Search by subject

DISCLAIMER

Scroll down to read

1)The information on this blog is not given for any commercial purposes. Any ads that you might possibly see have been put there by Wordpress and the proceeds go to them, not a single penny/paisa to me

2) The information on various subjects may be by no means comprehensive. The articles on health are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do seek the advice of your doctor if you suspect that you have a medical condition.

3) I do not have any affinity for any political party.

4) On my front page there are links to blogs I read. This does not mean that I subscribe to their views.

5) I am not a professional photographer and operate with the easy-to-use digital Canon 610.

5)Any material taken from another source is for referencing only. If anyone has any objection to their work being referenced, please write to me to ask to withdraw the reference.

6) Photographs from news sites are at times used on this blog, with acknowledgment. I am not making money from this blog, but if the owners of the photographs object, kindly write to me and the picture shall be removed.

Search all posts by date

Search all posts by date

A NOTE ABOUT COMMENTS:Your response is greatly valued so go ahead and say it! I read all comments and also try to answer each one. But I don't usually answer comments on my old posts, unless someone asks a question, but your views are always welcome and every comment is a kind of update so don't hesitate.

GIVE YOUR SUGGESTIONS:If you have suggestions for posts, you are welcome to email me with your ideas at the email address given above. I shall do my best to use them.

WRITE A GUEST POST:If you wish, you can also submit an article of yours for publication but it will be published only after review and if it fits in with the style and theme of this blog. Your name and a link to your blog will be provided at the end of the article.

Any subscriptions to email forwards or newsletters will be deleted and marked as spam.

A NOTE:The newspaper and magazine articles published on this blog are written by me. However, they may not be a word for word representation of the articles published in print. They may be abridged versions, or simply updated.